Golf ball warmer

ABSTRACT

A golf ball warming apparatus structured to retain up to six golf balls in a warming pouch with a flip-top closure having a configuration of dual vertical, parallel channels connected, at their respective distal ends, by a U-shaped channel and having a plurality of warming pockets for containing heating elements for warming and re-warming the golf balls, the warming pockets being located immediately adjacent to and in thermal conduction with the warming pouch. Additionally, the walls between the warming pouch and the warming pockets may contain a series of slots to augment the warming and re-warming of the golf balls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf ball warmer that is compact,lightweight and easily transported with all other golfing implements.The golf ball warmer can hold up to six balls at one time and is capableof always providing a ball that is heated. The golf ball warmer is easyto use; a simple push of one ball into the unit instantly begins thewarming process. In addition, the rotation component of the various golfballs through the pathway of the warming pouch will ensure that one isable to extract a completely warmed ball whenever it is needed.

Golfing is an intricate game that requires many rounds of practice tofinally reach a point where a player can consider himself a “good”golfer. As such, new players or “duffers,” often find themselves hittinghooks and slices, which result in balls that do not travel very far, orare difficult or impossible to find and retrieve. Even experiencedgolfers sometimes have the unfortunate luck of bad shots, particularlyin cold weather. When temperatures drop, the cold conditions canadversely affect the golf balls, resulting in decreased compression andlack of spin control. Unfortunately this can lead to much shorter shots,which adversely impact golfers' scores by adding strokes to their game.

It is well known that a golf ball, which is uniformly heated to atemperature of about 100° F. will travel farther than a cold golf ballwhen driven with a golf club. Therefore, a golfer has an advantage if hecan maintain his golf balls at an increased temperature during play onthe golf course in colder weather. Previous devices for heating golfballs have only a single compartment or pathway for inserting andretrieving balls making it difficult to use the device. These previousdevices also could only hold a limited number of golf balls, fewer thansix, or be incapable of easy operation and retrieval of heated golfballs. Additionally, a number of these prior devices also requireelectrical current as the heating source such that the heating devicewill generate heat by electrical resistance from an external source.

Some of these earlier devices and their problems and deficiencies may bedescribed as follows. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,676 (Gravatt) a golf ballwarmer is described which holds only 3 golf balls and uses a singlechannel for inserting and receiving the golf balls and uses an electricpower source for heating. Gravatt is limited by its use of batteriesthat must continually be replaced. The Gravatt apparatus does notfulfill the need for a continuous supply of warm golf balls at thepreferred temperature that has easy access to the longest warming ballfor the next use. Additionally, Gravatt does not fulfill the need for adual channel ingress and egress system for maximizing ease of access.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,155 (Loofbourow), discloses a warmed air circulatinggolf ball heater that utilizes a resistance device surrounded byperforated central and peripheral portions within the housing for thegolf balls. The use of warmed circulating air as the heat source isrelatively inefficient and the lack of insulation results in significantheat dissipation when the heating element is turned off. Loofbourowrequires connection to an inconvenient electrical outlet, and thereforethe heated air will cool, with the golf balls cooling as well, so thatthe Loofbourow apparatus does not fulfill the need for a portablecontinuous warming unit for housing golf balls. Since this devicerequires an external source of electric power, it does not fulfill theneed for an optimally warmed supply of golf balls.

Many earlier devices require golf ball insertion and dispensingarrangements that are detrimental to the conservation of heat within awarming compartment. Such devices often sacrifice the economy of handmovement as well. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,011 (Roth) astaged warming pathway through which golf balls are unidirectionallymoved from top to bottom is described, with a bottom ball captured in aninsulated cap. The insulated cap can be removed to release a warmed golfball. However, this configuration allows heated air to rise through thewarming compartment and therefore subjects the uppermost golf balls toreceive the warmest temperatures within the device. The lowermost golfball lies against the bottom lid, which is not described as beinginsulated allowing that golf ball, the next to be used, to decreases intemperature. Since the apparatus does not retain all of the golf ballsat a substantially similar temperature, this device does not fulfill theneed for a continuous supply of uniformly warmed golf balls with aconvenient dual channel ingress and egress system. However, theapparatus does use a use-once chemical heat source that does not relyupon external energy for warming. Further, the device is described ashousing only a limited number of golf balls, i.e., three, that will needto be rewarmed during play as the average and even the expert golfer usea greater number of balls during a round of play.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,461 (Arimoto) discloses a ball-warming device thatsuffers from a heating source located only at one end. This concentratesthe heating so that only one ball is warmed at a time. Many times duringthe game of golf, more than one ball is needed at one time, especiallyif two or more golfers are sharing balls or if a golfer hits into awater or similar hazard. The Arimoto device is inconvenient because ofthis one-ball-at-a-time heating feature. This device does not fulfillthe need for a continuous supply of uniformly warmed golf balls.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,362 (Hendricks) a heating device is describedwith a container that is divided into two halves that separate to exposeall of the balls to the cold elements when retrieving a single ball.Second, the Hendricks container is relatively large compared to the golfballs, which causes inefficient heating of the open air surrounding theballs. Third, the asymmetrical nature of the storage arrangement of thegolf balls causes the balls farthest from the heating element to beheated the least. The Hendricks device also fails to fulfill the needfor a continuous supply of optimally warmed golf balls within a unitthat keeps the warmed air from escaping outside the unit.

Furthermore, many earlier devices set forth inconvenient means of ballinsertion and removal. Often times, two separate removable end caps areprovided which require the use of two hands for the separate actions of:top cap removal, ball insertion, top cap replacement, bottom capremoval, ball retrieval, and bottom cap replacement. For example, theGravatt '676 patent describes a golf ball warmer using a combination ofsolar energy and battery power. Gravatt provides a small, portablearrangement; however, when the cover/absorption plate assembly is openedto remove a golf ball, all of the remaining balls are subjected toambient air, thereby permitting considerable heat loss from the ballcompartment. Moreover, additional ball compartments are necessary forstoring multiple balls during an extended round of golf. Therefore, thisdevice fails to fulfill the need for a convenient single-handedinsertion and retrieval system capable of preventing significant heatloss.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,197 (Schroth) describes another solar heat designfor a golf ball warmer. An absorber plate conducts solar heat energy toa golf ball compartment, but opens through a hinge that allows theheated air to escape. The clamshell type absorption plates as used bySchroth necessitate that only one side of the golf balls receive themaximum generated heat. Consequently, the clamshell type of solar golfball warmers fail to completely and uniformly warm golf balls in asymmetrical manner so as to ensure even heating throughout.

In view of the earlier devices described above, a need exists for a golfball warming device which is self-contained, and provides a continuingsupply of warmed golf balls throughout a round of play withoutdependence upon insulated containers and preheating or battery operatedheaters.

An additional need exists for a golf ball-warming device that is simplein design, portable, and includes an efficient and inexpensive heatingsource that is not overly exposed to the cold or wet elements in use.Another need exists for a golf ball-warming device that can store aplurality of golf balls in a minimum amount of space, with the golfballs positioned to receive heat from the heating source in an evenmanner across all of the golf balls in the device. Still another needexists for a golf ball warming device which is conveniently carried andaffords a readily accessible ball holder and dispenser for a continuingsupply of warmed golf balls at the user's fingertips.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention that after a hole is playedthe user can push the used ball back through one side of the unitallowing it to re-warm while the other balls are used. It is a furtherobject of the invention that the unit takes up to six balls ensuring awarm ball for each shot and that the balls are easy to remove from theunit once on the golf course.

It is another object of the invention to use chemical heating ormicrowaveable re-heated packets, which fit into pockets contained withinthe lining of the nylon unit, and will retain their heating capacity upto six hours. By having warm golf balls, golfers can enjoy increasedball compression, proper spin control, and increased distance of up tofifteen percent. It is still another object of the invention that thegolf ball warmer is simple and efficient in operation and economical anddurable in construction.

The aforementioned and other objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention will become readily apparent from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment(s), as well as from theassociated drawings, all of which merely illustrate the inventiveconcept, and are not in any way intended, nor should be construed, tolimit the scope of the instant invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates a novel golf ball warmer that employsa two sided ingress and egress system, which provides a ball warmingpath that creates a time lag, so that as the warmed golf balls are used,the first ball inserted is completely warmed and ready for play by thetime the sixth warmed golf ball is used. In the present invention, ballstravel down a left side channel of the pouch and curve upward through aU-shaped pathway and up through a right side channel as they are pushedthrough the unit, providing a constant rotation of balls. Additionally,the U-shaped pathway connects the left and right side channels, whichare parallel vertical channels, allowing for easy insertion and removalof the golf balls.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, thewarming pouch is sized to hold up to six balls at one time and ispreferred to be made of a lightweight nylon material. The warmingelement is preferably either a chemical warming packet or amicrowaveable re-heatable packet, such as Microcore® or a comparablemicrowaveable packet, fitting within the lining of the pouch,immediately adjacent to the pathways for the golf balls, and in thermalconduction with the pathways.

The present invention is easy to use by a simple push of a ball throughone side of the unit instantly begins the warming process. In addition,the rotation component ensures that one is able to extract a completelywarm ball whenever one is needed. The golf ball warmer is compact andlightweight and can be easily transported with all other golfingimplements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the golf ball warmer of the presentinvention showing the insertable warming packet above the packet pocket.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the golf ball warmer of the presentinvention from one side showing the inner arrangement of stored golfballs and the warming pockets with the insertable warming packets inplace.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the golf ball warmer of the presentinvention taken along LINE 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the inner arrangementof the warming pocket and stored golf balls.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the golf ball warmer of the presentinvention showing the pathway of the various golf balls into, throughand out of the warmer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in alimiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating thegeneral principles of the invention. The various features and advantagesof the present invention may be more readily understood with referenceto the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

With reference now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, aconvenient golf ball warmer 10 is illustrated and described. The golfball warmer 10 is configured and arranged to be compact, lightweight andeasily transported with all other golfing implements. The golf ballwarmer 10 is preferably made of a lightweight nylon material withdimensional measurements approximating six and one half inches in heightand four and one half inches in width with a depth of two and one halfto three inches, and that is preferably rectangular in shape.

The golf ball warmer 10 is a readily accessible ball holder anddispenser for a continuing supply of warmed golf balls 14. The golf ballwarmer 10 can hold up to six golf balls 14 at one time inside of awarming pouch 24 located in the interior of the golf ball warmer 10. Thegolf ball warmer 10 is designed to store a plurality of golf balls 14 ina minimum amount of space. In use, the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention permits golf balls 14 to be inserted and retrievedfrom the golf ball warmer 10 without allowing the passage of surroundingcool air due to the particular channel-like storage of the golf balls 14in-a minimum amount of space.

The warming pouch 24 contains two parallel vertical channels 16 and 18,which are connected by a U-shaped pathway 20, that, in combination,allows the golf balls 14 to pass through as they are warmed. The twochannels 16, 18 share a common wall 17 therebetween, which wall extendsdownward until it reaches the top of the U-shaped pathway 20. The golfball warmer 10 also contains a plurality of warming pockets 22 locatedwithin the lining of the golf ball warmer 10 and adjacent to the warmingpouch 24, each conformed to hold at least one warming packet 12. Thewarming pockets 22 are separated from the warming pouch 24 by respectivethermal conductive walls 28, 30. The golf balls 14 are positioned in aU-shaped pattern within the channels 16, 18 and 20, to receive heatsimultaneously as radiated from the warming packets 12 in an even manneracross all of the golf balls 14 in the golf ball warmer 10.

The golf ball warmer 10 contains an easy to use flip-up top 26, whichallows the user to open the top 26 with one hand and remove a warmedgolf ball 14. The top 26 remains closed until a golfer needs to retrieveone of the warmed golf balls 14, thereby reducing the amount of heatthat could escape from inside the golf ball warmer 10 and decreases theamount of cold air that enters. Also, the top 26 prevents unnecessaryexposure of the golf balls 14 to the cold or wet conditions that mayexist.

Inside the warming pouch 24, each ball 14 is enveloped in a temperatureof at least 100° F. by use of the plurality of warming packets 12, whichare contained inside the warming pockets 22. The warming packets 12, arepreferably microwaveable, and are inserted into the warming pockets 22of the warming pouch 24. The warming packets 12 may be made ofMicrocore® or a comparable microwaveable packet, that is dimensioned tofit inside the lining of the plurality of warming pockets 22 containedwithin the golf ball warmer 10. The warming packets 12 may also be of achemical heat packet type that are capable of fitting inside the liningof the plurality of warming pockets 22 contained within the golf ballwarmer 10. The chemical heat packets begin warming when the packet istwisted or bent in half to combine the chemicals housed therein and maythen be inserted into the lining of the warming pockets 22.

In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a two-sidedingress and egress system is employed, in which a U-shaped pathway 20connects two vertically oriented channels 16 and 18. The golf balls 14are inserted into the left side channel 16 of the warming pouch 24 fromthe top of the channel 16, the balls 14 then travel down the left sidechannel 16 and pass through the U-shaped pathway 20, connecting the twochannels, and are pushed up through the right side channel 18 as theyare rotated, and are ready for extraction from the top of the right sidechannel 18. This arrangement facilitates manual operation of the devicewith a single hand, thus freeing the golfer's other hand for othertasks.

The warming process is activated by a simple push of a ball 14 throughthe left side channel 16. The user inserts golf balls 14, one after theother, into the left side channel 16 until the pouch 24 has six balls.As the balls 14 are inserted into the left side channel 16, they traveldown and curve upward through the U-shaped pathway 20 that is containedwithin the warming pouch 24. Along the entire combined pathway of thewarming pouch 24, the golf balls 14 are being continuously and uniformlywarmed by the warming packets 12 contained within the lining of thewarming pockets 22. Once the golf balls 14 pass through the U-shapedpathway 20 they are pushed up through the right side channel 18 wherethey are ultimately retrieved for use by the user as warmed balls.

The warming packets 12 are contained on at least two sides of thewarming pouch 24, and provide that each golf ball 14 is continuallywarmed while in any physical position within the warming pouch 24. Inthe preferred embodiment, the warming packets 12 are contained insideeach of the warming pockets 22 located in a position along the front andthe back of the golf ball warmer 10. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each ballis sufficiently and uniformly warmed without any interference to thewarming process. This process of heating or re-warming the golf balls 14is assisted by a series of slots 32 in the front and back sidewalls 28,30 of the warming pouch 24. The golf balls 14 are positioned to receiveheat from the warming packets 12 in an even manner across all of thegolf balls 14 throughout the combined channels 16,18 and 20.

In an alternative construction, there may be two warming pockets 22located within the lining of the front of the golf ball warmer 10 andadjacent to the warming pouch 24. Further, there may be two pockets 22located within the lining of the back of the golf ball warmer 10 andadjacent to the warming pouch 24. In this alternative configuration,each warming pocket 22 is capable of holding at least one warming packet12. It is also contemplated for colder environments to further alter theplacement of the warming pockets by having additional warming pockets 22along the sides of the golf ball warmer 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, after a hole is played the user can push aused ball 14 through the left side channel 16 allowing the ball 14 totravel down the left side channel 16, through the U-shaped pathway 20and re-warm as it rotates through the warming pouch 24 and up throughthe right side channel 18 where it will be fully warmed and ready forretrieval. Once the used ball is inserted by the user into the left sidechannel 16, a fully warmed ball is ready for retrieval from the rightside channel 18 to play the next hole. By the time the user uses all theother balls 14 in the pouch 24, the original ball that was pushed backinto the pouch 24 will be fully warmed and ready for play.

Also in FIG. 4, there is shown an alternate method for attaching thecover 26. Instead of attachment to the warming pouch 24 of the golf ballwarmer 10 along the back side by a flexible hinge 34, the cover 26 maybe attached along one side of the warming pouch 24 by flexible hinge34A. In addition, a closure fastening means comprising first and secondsegments 36, 38 can be utilized to secure the cover 26 to the warmingpouch 24 by affixing each of the segments of the fastening means to theexterior of the warming pouch 24 and the interior of the overlappingcover 26. The fastening means may be cooperating Velcro® strips, or anyother suitable means to securely close, and retain the cover 26 in theclosed position, during the play of a round of golf.

Therefore, the constant rotation of balls 14 ensures that there is acontinuous supply of warm golf balls 14 at the user's fingertips, whichdoes not require an external, attachable source of power and is readilyaccessible. The warmed golf balls 14 give the user increased ballcompression, proper spin control, and increased distance by as much asfifteen percent.

The foregoing has been described as what is presently considered to bethe most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments,but is intended to cover various modifications and equivalentarrangements included within the scope of claims, which scope is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

1. An apparatus for warming golf balls made of a durable lightweightmaterial and dimensioned to closely contain a plurality of golf balls ina continuous pathway comprising: a warming pouch located in the interiorof the golf ball warmer capable of holding the plurality of golf ballswithin a duality of parallel vertical channels connected by a U-shapedpathway at their respective distal ends; plural warming pockets locatedwithin the golf ball warmer immediately adjacent to the warming pouch;plural heating elements located inside of the plural warming pocketsproducing heat for warming the golf balls; and, a top end-cap to keepout ambient cold air and moisture while simultaneously retaining theheat produced by the heating elements within the warming pouch ensuringan endless supply of warmed golf balls.
 2. The golf ball warmer of claim1, being capable of holding up to six golf balls within the warmingpouch at a time.
 3. The plural heating elements of claim 1 may beselected from the group consisting of one-use chemical or microwavereheatable pouches.
 4. The top end-cap of claim 1, being of a flip-uptype to facilitate easy insertion and retrieval of the golf balls fromwithin the unit.
 5. The warming pouch of claim 1, having a plurality ofslots to augment the transfer of radiated warmth from the heatingelements to the plurality of golf balls contained in the continuouspathway within the warming pouch.
 6. A method of warming a plurality ofgolf balls temporarily housed within a container made from a durablelightweight material comprising the steps of: creating a two sideingress and egress warming pouch in which the plurality of golf ballsare inserted into a first channel from the top and are pushed through aU-shaped pathway connecting to a second channel and rising up throughthe second channel to be ready for extraction from the top of the secondchannel; providing a plurality of warming pockets located immediatelyadjacent to the warming pouch and being capable of conducting heatthereinto, having a plurality of heating elements located inside forproducing heat for warming the golf balls; providing a cover to keep outambient cold air and moisture while simultaneously retaining the heatproduced by the heating elements within the warming pouch, ensuring acontinuous rotation of warmed golf balls through the combined channelsof the warming pouch.
 7. The method of claim 6 including the additionalstep of selecting a heating element from the group consisting of one-usechemical or microwave reheatable pouches.
 8. The method of claim 6including the additional step of providing a plurality of slots betweenthe heating elements and the warming pouch to augment the transfer ofradiated warmth from the heating elements to the plurality of golf ballscontained in the continuous pathway within the warming pouch.